If you’ve been running markets for a while, you’ll know that scammers tend to come in waves. And right now, we’re seeing another one.
Over recent weeks, reports have been coming in from organisers and stallholders across the country about fake market scams listings, fraudulent booking requests, and impersonation scams. It’s frustrating, it’s damaging and sadly, it’s becoming more sophisticated.
Whether you’re an organiser managing applications, or a maker looking for your next market opportunity, here’s what you need to know and what you can do about it.
What the market scams look like right now
Scammers are getting clever. Here are the most common ones circulating at the moment:
Fake market listings
A market is advertised, often using an ai generated poster. They might be lurking in FB groups trying to push their event. Sometimes using real market names, real locations, even real organiser photos but the event doesn’t exist. Stallholders pay a pitch fee and turn up to nothing or realise the market is a scam before the event.
How you spot it: Trusted organisers should have other presence than just word of mouth on a FB group – do your due diligence or only book through trusted software platforms.
Impersonation of real organisers
Scammers might be bold enough to pose as well-known market organisers via email or social media, contacting stallholders directly to offer ‘exclusive’ pitch spots.
How you spot it: The big companies don’t work like that and usually have limited spaces they need to just fill. In this instance payments go straight to the scammer.
Too-good-to-be-true pitch fees
An incredibly low pitch fee or a ‘guaranteed pitch’ with no vetting process is almost always a red flag.
How you spot it: Gut feeling and check before committing and paying.
For stallholders: How to protect yourself
Before you hand over any money for a market pitch, take a few minutes to do your homework, your due diligence is key here!
Are they dealing with you through Facebook messenger alone? Or are they emailing and have you checked their email account?
Verify the organiser directly
Search for the market independently don’t just click links in emails or social posts. Find their official website, Facebook page, or listing on a trusted directory like Pedddle and contact them through those channels.
How you spot it: Pedddle liaises with the organisers and we have even rung up a venue before to check an event out ourselves. We appreciate everyone has to start somewhere.
Check for reviews and history
Has the market run before? Are there photos, reviews, or stallholder testimonials? A market with no history and no community presence is a warning sign. Although, we know everyone has to start somewhere, are they building a community or just shouting for stallholders? There is a difference – be mindful of this, you don’t want to be in a room full of traders and no one else.
Be wary of paying by bank transfer to an individual or PayPal
Legitimate markets will typically have clear payment processes, invoices, and terms. If you’re being asked to transfer money to a personal account with no paperwork, pause.
How you spot it: Only just card payment unless you know and trust the event organiser.
Trust your gut
If something feels off, rushed communication, vague details, pressure to pay quickly, it probably is.
Use trusted directories and platforms
Booking through a reputable platform or finding markets through a trusted directory adds a layer of protection, because those listings have been (usually) verified.
For organisers: How to protect your reputation and your stallholders
When scammers impersonate a real market – your market, it’s your reputation on the line. Here’s how to make it harder for them.
Make your application process clear and public
Scammers thrive in confusion. If your stallholders know exactly how your application process works, what platform you use, what communications to expect, what you’ll never ask via social media – they’re much harder to fool.
Use a dedicated platform for applications
Taking applications through a proper management platform (rather than email or Facebook DMs) creates a clear, verifiable paper trail. Stallholders learn what ‘official’ looks like, which makes impersonation much harder to pull off.
Communicate proactively
A simple post or email saying “here’s how we handle applications, and here’s what we’ll never ask you to do” goes a long way. Your community will appreciate the heads-up.
Branded assets and Posters
If you are creating branded posters and imagery with your brand style applied, it reduces the likelihood scammers will try to copy this exactly as that requires work! If you are using ai posters, it’s very replicable.
If scammers are using your logo or photos, report the content to the platform and contact your local Trading Standards or Action Fraud.
Keep a record of your stallholders.
Having a clear record of who has applied, been accepted, and paid through your official process helps you quickly identify and flag anything that doesn’t match.
If you’ve been scammed — or think you have
Don’t suffer in silence. Report it.
- Action Fraud (UK): actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040
- Trading Standards: via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline 0808 223 1133
- The platform or social media channel where the scam appeared. Instagram
And please, talk to your community. Warning other stallholders and organisers is one of the most effective things you can do.
